Smooth Conclusion to Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Unrest in Kolkata
Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd shouted his name.
His flight from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, local media stated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there.
A Packed Schedule Across Multiple Cities
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, attending a series of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely presented a 21-meter statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.
Troubled Start in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a chaotic start after disappointed fans destroyed seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of devoted supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.
However, many didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent.
"Faulty planning of a hyped-up event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "vented their anger by engaging in violence."
The unrest, which grabbed international headlines, overshadowed Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The organizer in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Peaceful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the world-famous star on social media and in press interactions.
Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these interactions, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan gatherings in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.
There were speculation earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister departed on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Root of Messi's Immense Appeal in India
Messi's popularity comes not only from his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that a huge number of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
